Massage device with soap dispenser



April 23, 1964 1.. T. KELLIS 3,130,442

MASSAGE DEVICE WITH SOAP DISPENSER Filed Dec. 7, 1962 i A 625 INVENTOR.

75 law: 7, KILL/5 United States Patent Ofi ice 3,130,442 Patented Apr.28, 1964 3,139,442 MASSAGE DEVICE Wu I H SOAP DISPENSER Louis T. Keliis,540 OFarrell St, Apt. 405, San Francisco, Calif. Filed Dec. 7, 1962,Ser. No. 243,018 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-509) The present invention relates toa massage device as may be employed, for example, in the shampooing ofhair, and more particularly, to an improvement in such devices wherein ashampoo fluid, such as soap, or the like, may be readily dispensed bythe operator during shampooing.

It is known to provide various types of brushes having receptacles forcontaining liquid soap, or the like, and provided with means fordispensing this soap during operation of the brush. The presentinvention provides an improvement over these types of devices. Inaccordance with the present invention, there is provided a generallysemi-spherical massage element having teeth, or the like, upon thegenerally flat under surface thereof. Finger loops are provided upon thecurved upper surface of the device to provide means for gripping themassage unit during use thereof. The invention provides for actuation ofa dispensing valve through the raising of one of these finger loops.

In the use of a massage unit of the type adapted to fit within the handof an operator, it is necessary for the operator to grip the unit andthus to normally apply an inward pressure upon the unit. Inasmuch as thedispensing of a shampoo fluid, such as liquid soap, is only intended tobe accomplished periodically, it is provided by the present inventionthat a reverse pressure or action of one of the gripping fingers shallbe utilized for actuating the dispensing valve. This then provides amaterially improved ease of operation and insurance against inadvertentdispensing of the soap.

In addition to the enhanced utility of the present invention, it isfurthermore provided herein that the structure of the improved deviceshall be exceedingly simple and inexpensive to manufacture. Althoughthis inexpensiveness is the goal of many device improvements, thepresent invention is particularly successful in this respect, for onlytwo elements are added to a substantially conventional massage unit inorder to achieve readily controlled dispensing of soap, or the like,therefrom. This then highly commends the present invention to Widespreaduse.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved massageunit containing a soap dispenser actuated by an element employed forgripping the unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in a massageunit a dispensing valve resiliently mounted for actuation by reversefinger pressure from that normally employed in gripping the unit.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a massageunit of a configuration to fit within the hand of an operator and havingfinger engaging elements thereof to facilitate gripping with one of suchelements controlling a dispensing valve in the unit.

Various other possible objects and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art from the followingdescription of a single preferred embodiment of this invention, takentogether with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transverse sectional view taken in a vertical plane throughthe massage unit of the present invention;

2A is an enlarged partial sectional view of the upper portion of themassage unit with the dispenser valve actuated; and

R3. 213 is an enlarged partial sectional view of the lower portion ofthe massage unit illustrating the valve in open position as establishedby the actuator illustrated in FIG. 2A.

Considering now a single preferred embodiment of the present invention,and referring to the accompanying drawing, there is illustrated at FIG.1 thereof a hollow, semi-spherical shell 11 having a generally flatbottom wall closure 12. This bottom wall or plate 12 is provided with aplurality of depending teeth 13, which are adapted for engagement withthe scalp of one being massaged. The teeth 13 may be formed of aresilient material, as may be the lower wall 12 or, alternatively, theseelements may be formed of hard rubber or plastic.

Within the shell 11 there is defined a closed chamber 14, which isadapted to contain a fluid to be dispensed from the massage unit. Thisfluid 16 may comprise a liquid soap or any other liquid material thatmay be advantageously periodically dispensed during massage treatments.

Upon the upper curved surface of the shell 11, there are provided aplurality of finger engaging elements such as rings or loops for thepurpose of facilitating gripping of the massage unit during use thereof.A pair of rings 21 and 22 are shown to be disposed on opposite sides ofthe center of the shell, and afilxed to the outer surface thereof by anysuitable means. At the center of the shell there is disposed anadditional ring 24, and these three rings are formed of a suflicientinner diameter so that an operator may readily slip the fingers of onehand through these rings. In normal use, the index, middle, and ringfingers of an operators hand would be inserted through the rings 21, 24and 22, respectively. With the massage unit so gripped, it is then incondition for utilization to rub over the head or other portion to bemassaged and cleaned.

Interiorly of the massage unit, and within the chamber 14, there isdisposed a valve stem 26 extending axially through the hemisphere andcontaining at the lower end thereof an enlarged valve head 27. Anopening 28 substantially at the center of the lower plate 12 provides avalve seat for this enlarged valve head 27, and it may have a taperedconfiguration, as illustrated in some detail in FIG. 2B. The upper endof the valve stem 26 extends through an opening 29 in the shell ill, andis there firmly attached to the ring 24 exteriorly of the shell. It willbe seen that raising of the valve stem, as by an upward pressure on thering 24 will unseat the valve head from the valve seat so as to providean opening from the chamber 14 through the bottom wall 12 of the massageunit. Conversely, a downward pressure upon the valve stem, as wouldnormally be exerted by the pressure of a finger gripping the sphere,will seat the valve and thereby close the opening 28 through the bottomplate 12. Operation of the invention to dispense fluid is thusaccomplished by an upward movement of a gripping finger of the operatorholding the massage unit. The normal pressure exerted by the fingers ofone gripping the unit is downward against the spherical shell 11, andconsequently inadvertent dispensing of fluid with the present inventionis substantially entirely precluded.

In addition to the foregoing, the present invention provides for sealingthe upper opening 29 in the shell 11, and also for the automatic closureof the valve under all conditions except desired valve opening throughthe application of an upward pressure to the ring 24. These twofunctions are combined in a resilient cone 31. The valve stem 26 extendsthrough the center of this cone, and is sealed thereto as, for example,by a locking nut, or the like, 32. This joinder of valve stem andsealing cone may be formed exteriorly of the spherical shell 11, asillustrated in FIG. 2A, and as is also shown in that figure, the outeredges of the cone extend within the shell through the opening 29. Theouter edge of the sealing cone 31 is firmly afiixed and sealed to theinner surface of the shell 11 as, for example, by the utilization ofappropriate adhesives, V v 7 The above-described conical member 31willbe seen to serve a dual purpose in the present invention.- By thesealing of the outer edge of the cone 31 against the inner surface 'ofthe spherical shell and the sealing of the valve stem to the openingthrough the apex of the cone, there is then provided a seal about thevalve stem through the shell so that fluid within the unit cannot leakout through this upper opening 29. In addition, the cone 3-1 is formedof a resilient material and is stretched in assembly so as to urge thestern downward to normally seat thewalve. Upon raising the stem, thematerial of the cone is additionally stretched and consequently willresiliently return to normal position, forcing the valve stem downwardlyto close the valve. Although it will be appreciated that alternativeresilient return means may be employed for maintaining the valve innormally closed position as, for example, during storage of the unit, amaterial simplificataion is attained hereby in that one single unitperforms both the sealing and resilient return function.

Within the chamber 14 there are preferably provided guide means 33 forinsuring linear motion of the valve stem. These guide means may beprovided in any one of a variety of ways, and are only schematicallyillustrated as angular struts extending upwardly from the upper side ofthe bottom plate 12.

In operation of this invention, the interior of the cham ber :14 is, atleast in part, filled with a fluid such as liquid soap 16, by invertingthe massage unit and opening the valve so that fluid may be poured inthe opening 28. With the valve closed, the unit is then gripped by anoperator, as by insertion of the operators fingers through the rings 21,22 and 2-4. The teeth 13 upon the under surface of the unit are providedfor engaging hair during shampooing or massage operation, and the liquidsoap 34 is dispensed from the unit by an upward movement of theoperators finger to raise the ring 24 and consequently to unseat thevalve.

As previously noted, the normal pressure or forces exerted upon the ring24 is a downward one required for gripping of the hemispherical shell 11of the unit. Consequently, it is only upon a reversal of this forcebrought about by a predetermined intention of the operator that the ringwould be raised to thereby open the valve. Consequently, inadvertentdispensation of liquid soap from the unit is precluded hereby.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved massage device comprising (a) a housing defining achamber and having a substantially flat bottom massage wall with acentral opening therethrough defining a valve seat,

(b) an elongated valve stem extending from said chamber through the topof said housing and having a valve head at the bottom thereof forengaging said valve seat in sealing relation to the opening in thebottom wall,

(c) resilient sealing means engaging said valve stem and said housingfor sealing the chamber at the top thereof and unidirectionallyresiliently urging said valve stem toward the bottom wall of thehousing, and

(d) a loop afiixed to the top of said valve stem above the housing forvalve actuation by an upward force on the loop to raise the valve stem.

2. An improved massage unit as set forth in claim 1 further defined bysaid resilient sealing means comprising a conical resilient memberdisposed Within the housing and sealed about its edges to the innersurface of the housing with the valve stem extending through the apex ofthe cone and secured in sealing relation to the cone, said conicalmember pie-stretched to normally resiliently urge the'valve stem in thedirection of the'bottom wall of said' housing.

3. An improved massage unit comprising 1 v (a) a hemispherical shellhaving an opening through an axis thereof, 7

(b) a wall secured to saidshell to define a fluid chamber and having acentral valve opening therethrough in alignment with the opening in saidshell,

(c) a plurality of teeth extending from the outside of said wall, l A V(d) an elongated valve stem having a valve head engaging the opening 'insaid wall in sealing relation thereto and extending from the chamberthrough the opening in said shell, v

(e) resilient sealing means secured about said valve stem at said shellopening and secured in sealing rela tion to the shell about the openingtherein for resiliently unidirectionally urging the stem into thechamber to normally seat the valve head,

(f) fixed ring shaped finger engaging elements secured to the shell onthe exterior curved hemispherical surface thereof for facilitatinggripping of the shell with the curved exterior hemispherical surfacethereof engaging the palm of a hand of an operator, and

(g) ring shaped actuating means affixed to the end of the valve stemoutside the shell for engagement by the finger of an operator ingripping the shelland actuating the valve stem to unseat the valve headby an upward force thereon by the finger of an operator to thereby openthe chamber through the opening in the wall for dispensing a liquidcontained in the chamber.

References Cited in the file of this patent 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS358,625 Robinson Mar. 1, 1887 1,878,027 Tremolada Sept. 20, 19322,525,331 Adams Oct. 10, 1950 2,722,702 Carter Nov. 8, 1955 FOREIGNPATENTS 198,550 Germany May 23, 1908

1. AN IMPROVED MASSAGE DEVICE COMPRISING (A) A HOUSING DEFINING ACHAMBER AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT BOTTOM MASSAGE WALL WITH ACENTRAL OPENING THERETHROUGH DEFINING A VALVE SEAT, (B) AN ELONGATEDVALVE STEM EXTENDING FROM SAID CHAMBER THROUGH THE TOP OF SAID HOUSINGAND HAVING A VALVE HEAD AT THE BOTTOM THEREOF FOR ENGAGING SAID VALVESEAT IN SEALING RELATION TO THE OPENING IN THE BOTTOM WALL, (C)RESILIENT SEALING MEANS ENGAGING SAID VALVE STEM AND SAID HOUSING FORSEALING THE CHAMBER AT THE TOP THEREOF AND UNIDIRECTIONALLY RESILIENTLYURGING SAID VALVE STEM TOWARD THE BOTTOM WALL OF THE HOUSING, AND (D) ALOOP AFFIXED TO THE TOP OF SAID VALVE STEM ABOVE THE HOUSING FOR VALVEACTUATION BY AN UPWARD FORCE ON THE LOOP TO RAISE THE VALVE STEM.